Dream Wanderers of Borneo – Cultural Heritage

"The great danger in the world today is that the very feeling and conception of what is a human being might well be lost."
>Richard Wright to Jean-Paul Sartre

In this episode of Ring of Fire the Blair brother's sense of adventure and spiritual quest takes them into the wilds of Borneo to find the Punan Dyaks or the Dream Wanderers. In order to find them they need the help of Punan guides. These Punans left their nomadic families to seek their livelihood as laborers. While the Blair's quest is intellectual, the Punan laborers change from guides to explorers seeking their ancestry.

As we watch these last two sections of The Ring of Fire we want you to focus on diversity, cultural heritage, and differing world views.

Part I – Into the Jungle, Tuesday, October 19

Each time we stop the film please address the following questions:

• How do the Punan guides relate to their world and their environment?

• How is the Punans' view of the world different from yours?

• In what ways have the Punan guides changed?

For homework part I:

“At the annual Lower East Side Jewish Festival yesterday, a Chinese woman ate a pizza slice in front of Ty Thuan Duc's Vietnamese grocery store. Beside her a Spanish-speaking family patronized a cart with two signs: 'Italian Ices' and 'Kosher by Rabbi Alper.' And after the pastrami ran out, everybody ate knishes.” (New York Times, 23 June 1983)

Should America be a melting pot or a bouillabaisse? Write about America's cultural diversity. In a specific or general way discuss whether promoting one's cultural heritage is beneficial or detrimental to American Culture.

Part II – With the Dream Wanderers, Wednesday, October 20

Each time we stop the film please address the following questions:

• How do the Punan Dyaks in the village relate to their world and their environment?

• How is the Punan Dyaks' view of the world different from yours?

• What makes life satisfying for the Punan Dyaks?

• In what ways have the Blair brothers changed?

For homework:

• What do you need for a satisfying life?

• How is your view of a satisfying life different from the Punan Dyaks?

Homework and in class writing for both sections due Friday, October 22